Trump Meets Syria’s Shara at White House in Historic Shift Ending Years of Isolation

Washington | November 11 —
Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara met U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, in what is being seen as the most significant shift in U.S.–Syria relations in decades. The meeting marks the first-ever visit by a Syrian president to the White House and could set in motion major political and security changes across the Middle East.

For Shara — the former rebel commander who rose to power after toppling long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad last December — the visit crowns a remarkable year. Since assuming office, the 42-year-old leader has worked to end Syria’s international isolation, realigning the war-torn nation away from Iran and Russia and toward Turkey, the Gulf, and Washington.

The two leaders first met in Riyadh earlier this year. Days before Monday’s meeting, Washington formally removed Shara from its list of “Specially Designated Global Terrorists.”

Security Talks and Strategic Realignment

Security issues are expected to dominate discussions. U.S. officials have been mediating talks toward a potential Syria–Israel security arrangement, and sources told Reuters that the U.S. is considering establishing a military presence at a Syrian airbase.

Syria is also expected to formally join the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, with an announcement likely during the White House meeting.

President Trump, speaking to reporters ahead of the talks, said, “We’ve made a lot of progress with Syria. I think he’s doing a very good job. It’s a tough neighborhood, and he’s a tough man — but we’ve had great chemistry.”

Push to Lift Sanctions

After meeting Shara in Riyadh in May, Trump announced plans to lift all sanctions on Syria. However, the toughest restrictions — under the Caesar Sanctions Act — can only be revoked by Congress. While the White House and State Department back lifting them before the end of 2025, experts warn that the ongoing government shutdown may delay the process.

Shara is expected to press strongly for the repeal of these sanctions, which would open Syria to global investment after 14 years of war. The World Bank estimates that rebuilding the country will require more than $200 billion.

Fragile Stability and Lingering Violence

Despite diplomatic breakthroughs, Syria remains fragile. More than 2,500 people have been killed in sectarian clashes since Assad’s ouster, raising doubts about the new government’s ability to govern a deeply divided nation.

From Rebel Fighter to World Statesman

Shara’s personal transformation mirrors that of his country. A former al-Qaeda affiliate, he joined the group in Iraq after the 2003 U.S. invasion and spent several years in American custody before returning to Syria to fight Assad.

Known earlier as Abu Mohammad al-Golani, Shara was designated a terrorist by the U.S. in 2013 for his links to al-Qaeda. He severed ties with the group in 2016 and consolidated power in northwestern Syria.

In December, the U.S. withdrew its $10 million bounty on him, and last week, the U.N. Security Council lifted terrorism-related sanctions against both Shara and his interior minister, Anas Khattab. The U.S. and U.K. quickly followed suit.

“From Wanted Terrorist to U.S. Ally”

Firas Maksad, managing director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Eurasia Group, described the visit as “a dramatic reversal — Syria has gone from being an Iranian proxy to joining the U.S.-led camp, and Shara himself from a wanted terrorist to a partner in the fight against terrorism.”

Maksad cautioned, “This experiment could still go wrong — there are deep concerns about minority rights and democratic freedoms — but the first-ever White House visit by a Syrian president is a moment of hope that Syria may finally be on a path toward reintegration.”